Professional Background

Summary of Credentials

Associations

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (registration number 3277) with active membership in the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Education

Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia (2007).

Bachelor or Arts (Honours) in Psychology from the University of British Columbia (2002).

Work Experience

I am an experienced individualtherapist and couples counsellor.

For 12 years I have worked in helping positions such as trauma counsellor, group counsellor, victim service worker/community counsellor, transition house support worker, ESL instructor and teacher supervisor.

I have extensive training and experiencing in helping victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, and sexual assault and frequently teach or consult on these topics.

I also completed an externship in Emotionally Focussed Couples Therapy and enjoy working with couples in therapy and workshops. I launched my private practice in 2012 and it is now my sole work focus.

Research

Undergraduate

I completed a dissertation on cultural differences in drinking motives.

Graduate

I conducted intensive research on sexual difficulties in couples. I applied for and received a $17, 500 scholarship from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada to conduct this research. I presented my research at the International Counselling Conference in Chicago in 2008 as well as at the Canadian Psychological Association Conference in 2008 in Halifax, where I won the Best Master’s Poster Presentation Award.

Recent Training

I like to participate in training when experts are available to teach. Highlights include:

Synergetic Play Therapy, May 2016

Play Therapy: The process for a 2.5 year old boy and father who witnessed the murder of their mother/wife, with Maryann Pare, September 2015

The DSM-5: Key changes and implications for practice, with Dr. Vaneeta Sandhu, July 2015